On July 14, 1789, enraged French stormed the Bastille prison in Paris, triggering the famous French Revolution. July 14 is therefore a national holiday in France. It is also the birth date of singer / songwriter Dan Smith (1987), who named his band after the historic event. Bastille stormed the UK charts in 2013 with their debut album Bad Blood, after which Belgium, Australia, Ireland and the United
… States also tackled. Although Smith largely works on his own, you cannot hear that on the widely orchestrated songs. Smith's lyrics are not exactly frivolous with references to the Old Testament and Greek mythology. The artwork completes the picture with scenes from a non-existent melancholy cult film. Still Smith's mix of bombastic indie, electropop and romantic listening songs are nowhere heavy, because the whole sounds just too catchy and cheerful for that. Bad Blood evokes a little too many (diverse) associations (Ed Sheeran, Yeasayer, Owl City), but above all lacks an element of surprise. Bastille is certainly very promising, but for the time being does not make any revolutionary music. (JE)more
